Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFROC2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFROC2’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; rapid, uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFROC2’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Mar. 19, 2020, application number 2020/0782. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

A Japanese Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Jul. 30, 2020, application number 34846. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

A Malaysian Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Sep. 29, 2020, application number PVBT 049/20. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

A Vietnamese Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Oct. 16, 2020, application number 2020_170. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

A Colombian Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Dec. 29, 2020, application number A202741. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

A Chinese Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Mar. 2, 2021, application number 20211001376. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFROC2’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Delibaltica’, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Delibaltica’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in June, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since June, 2015 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFROC2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFROC2’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Rapid, uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray         florets.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent, ‘Delibaltica’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are bright yellow in color whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Delibaltica’ are white in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delibaltica Yellow’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Delibaltica Yellow’ in response time as plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about one week earlier than plants of ‘Delibaltica Yellow’. In addition, inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are smaller than inflorescences of ‘Delibaltica Yellow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFROC2’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences (top of figure) and typical leaves (bottom of figure) of ‘DLFROC2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFROC2’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum     x morifolium ‘Delibaltica’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 72.2             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 77.4 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 24.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 68 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 143A.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146A and 147C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 12.6 cm. Width: About 7.6 cm. Shape, in overall             outline: Obovate to broadly elliptic. Apex: Abruptly acute,             minute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely             dentate to serrate; sinuses parallel to slightly divergent             and medium in depth to deep. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Moderately to densely pubescent, not rugose;             slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately to densely pubescent, prominent             venation; slightly glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate,             reticulate. Color: Developing and fully developed leaves,             upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 139A; venation,             close to 146A. Developing and fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B. Petioles:             Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent; slightly             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B; edges, close to             NN137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B; edges, close to             137B. Stipules: Quantity, appearance and arrangement: Two             leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole attachment to the             stem. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape, in             overall outline: Roughly reniform. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent; slightly             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower             surface: Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with             obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face             mostly upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on             a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             51 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior             environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,             about 22 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About             8.6 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 3 cm.             Disc diameter, grown as a spray-type: If disc florets are             present, about 1 mm; inconspicuous.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Flattened spherical. Texture and luster:             Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing             involucral bracts, close to 137B and 138C; developing ray             florets, close to 4B and 4C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 200 arranged in             about eight whorls. Length: About 2.9 cm, varying between             0.9 cm and 4.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm, varying between 0.1 cm             and 1.8 mm. Shape: Obovate; moderately convex, moderately             carinate. Apex: Shallowly praemorse to shallowly emarginate.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: About             20° to 90° from vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;             slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 4A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 5D; distally,             close to 4B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 4B;             distally, close to 4A; venation, close to 4B and 4A; color             does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 4C; distally, close to 4B; venation,             close to 4C and 4B; color does not change with subsequent             development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: If present, about             one or two at the center of the receptacle. Length: About             5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 80% fused into a             tube; upper 20% free. Apex: Acute. Margin, free-part:             Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and             outer surfaces: Apex: Close to N144C. Mid-section and base:             Close to 157D. Color, fully opened, inner and outer             surfaces: Apex: Close to 150C. Mid-section and base: Close             to 157D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 26             arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to             144A; lateral margins, translucent and close to 145D and             157A and apical margins tinged with close to N199A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 137B and NN137A; lateral margins,             translucent and close to 145D and 157A and apical margins             tinged with close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.6 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 7.1 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.             Aspect, third peduncle: About 50° from the flowering stem             axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to slightly darker than 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 1.75 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color:             Close to 151C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to             17A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.             Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Style             length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Stigma             diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to three-parted,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close             to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum     spp. chrysanthemi (strain FoNL1)). To date, plants of the new     Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFROC2’ as illustrated and described. 